Automotive components are for the most part cylindrical and thus the weld seams are of radial shape. Radial weld
seams are usually produced by starting at a point on the component's surface rotating the component resulting in an
overlap zone at the start/end of the weld. In this research, it is shown that the component's distortion strongly
depends on the overlap of weld start and end. A correlation between overlap zone and distortion is verified by an
experimental study. In order to reduce distortion generated by the overlap zone a special optics is used which allows
shaping the laser beam into a ring shape which is then focused on the cylindrical surface and produces a radial ring
weld seam simultaneously by one laser pulse. In doing this, the overlap zone is eliminated and distortion can be
reduced. Radial weld seams are applied on precision samples and distortion is measured after welding. The distortion
of the precision samples is measured by a tactile measuring method and a comparison of the results of welding
with the ring optics to reference welds is done.